State exports by year and sector

In 2012, Washington was the nation’s fourth-biggest exporter, trailing only Texas, California and New York. More than half of the state’s exports fell into the federally defined category of transportation — let’s call it airplanes. Without those airplanes, the state would be ranked about 11th. What about software? Microsoft sells most of its products through the tax-friendlier state of Nevada. Over the past 15 years, the value of the state’s exports has more than doubled, for an increase of 131 percent. Here’s a look at that growth, by year and by product sector.